Woman Arrested For Series Of Burglaries

After two failed attempts over the last three months, the Gila County Sheriff's Department finally arrested and booked a 37-year-old Pine woman on multiple burglary charges.

Andrea Lynna Braswell is suspected of committing multiple break-ins in the gated Pine community, the Portals, where she lived in 2008.

Sheriff Detective George Ratliff said in late April and early May multiple burglaries were reported in the Portals.

On May 24, a resident reported hearing glass breaking and seeing a woman leave a home. Responding deputies arrested Braswell on charges of burglary and theft.

Braswell appeared in court on May 25, but was released by a judge on her own recognizance, Ratliff said.

Less than a month later, June 16, a resident called the sheriff's department to report a burglary in progress at the Portals.

"The resident reported seeing someone in her neighbor's house. Her husband went to the house and attempted to detain the burglar and make a citizen's arrest, but the suspect left," Ratliff said.

Braswell was identified as a suspect in the burglary, and was arrested.

"Because of a miscommunication between the county attorney's office and the sheriff's office, a long form complaint was not signed within 72 hours, so Braswell had to be released from custody," Ratliff said.

Then on Aug. 6, a grand jury issued a 20-count indictment and arrest warrant for Braswell.

She was arrested Aug. 12 and booked in the Payson jail.

A search of her home, recovered items reported missing from past burglaries, he said.